Holy Dogtrimony
I often compare the relationship one has with his or her dog to a marriage, of sorts. I know the comparison gets lost on some, but in close examination I really do feel the two relationships are very similar. A lot of people view their dog as their child, and there's nothing wrong with that, but to me, the objective of parenting is raising children well enough that they can leave you one day and live their own lives. How many times did you endure your own parents say things like, "you can do what you want when you move out, but while you live under my roof, you will do what I say ....."? Come on, I know I'm not the only one. I even found myself inadvertently channeling my own mother by repeating that phrase to my own son. Your success as a parent is most often measured by how well your child does when he flies away and leaves the coop. No matter how productive or successful your adult child is, if he or she is 35 and still living with mom, eyebrows will raise.
However with our dogs, naturally we're not preparing them to go off and live on their own, but rather are cultivating a relationship that is supposed to last each other's lifetime. That means addressing each other's needs and expectations, accepting each other's shortcomings, finding a rhythm together in which both parties feel content and fulfilled, and lastly committing to see each other through good times and bad times, for better or worse. That sure sounds like a marriage to me and I know more than a few people for whom the longest, most stable relationship they've had is the one they have with their dog.
Some of the strongest relationships I've had the pleasure to witness between humans and dogs are ones that have not achieved that rhythm, but has stood the test of time and it'd be difficult to picture one without the other. My good friend Lee and his dog Usul have achieved that kind of groove. Usul is not only Lee's assistance dog, but they are best friends, companions, partners, and in the words of Forrest Gump, she is peas and he is carrots.
The pair can often be seen competing in APDT rally trials primarily in Virginia and Maryland, and though their scores vary and errors certainly are made along the course, they remain one of the most revered teams among the other exhibitors. There's just something magical that happens when a dog and his human become so in sync. I know that if Usul could talk, she'd definitely be completing Lee's sentences.
